";s:4:"text";s:25169:"It is simply reading too much into this practice, and it is not correct to support something one favors by denigrating another practice. What Everyone Should Know About How To Receive Holy Communion Ireland, 4 September 1976 Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy and dean of theology at the Regina Apostolorum university. For example, there is ample evidence that the exchange of peace between the people was practiced well into the Middle Ages in several European countries. In the case of communion under both kinds by way of intinction, it is never permitted to place on the hand of the communicant the host that has been dipped in the Lords blood.. 95% of parishes shrinking, seminaries empty, young people disengaged: it will happen in Africa and Asia too when the culture of the secular West overwhelms the Third World. This article has been selected from the ZENIT Daily Dispatch Innovative Media, Inc. ZENIT International News Agency Via della Stazione di Ottavia, 95 00165 Rome, Italywww.zenit.org, To subscribe http://www.zenit.org/english/subscribe.html or email: english-request@zenit.org with SUBSCRIBE in the "subject" field, Provided Courtesy of: Eternal Word Television Network 5817 Old Leeds Road Irondale, AL 35210www.ewtn.com, HOME - EWTNews - FAITH - TELEVISION - RADIO - LIBRARY - MULTIMEDIAWHAT'S NEW - GENERAL - RELIGIOUS CATALOGUE - PILGRIMAGES - ESPAOL, EWTN | 5817 Old Leeds Rd. For it is a deed fraught with destruction to take the tongue which serve such awesome mysteries, which has become purpled with a blood so precious, which has become a sword of gold and to change its course to abuse, insolence and ribald jests. [25] Origen of Alexandria, homily in Ex. Eccl., VII, ix). So it is not just tiresome traditionalists who worry about particles. However, while this text is undoubtedly ancient evidence of the existence of Communion in the hand, it is, like many patristic texts, fraught with interpretative conundrums. Middle Africa, 3 February 1970 If one is receiving in the hand the following is normative: upon approaching the minister of the Host extend the hands in the middle of the chest. Nowhere in this article did I see what the CHURCH says about Holy Communion, only the writers opinion. The author seems to think that liturgical reforms should consist of only what an ecumenical council prescribed. [16] Liturgical evidence from Rome is always sparser than one would like, but Eusebius preserves a mention of communion in the hand in a letter written from Dionysius of Alexandria to Sixtus I, bishop of Rome,[17] and in a letter of Cornelius, bishop of Rome. Reverence for the Most Blessed Sacrament | The Fatima Center June 29, 2021 |
The way we communicate the Gospel message is almost as important as the Gospel itself. As a scholar of the early Church, I was surprised to learn that the practice of communion in the hand is such a hotly debated topic; it came to my attention during the early days of the pandemic, when many dioceses required communicants to receive in this way. 4. Not only was Communion in the hand started in disobedience, it was perpetuated by deceit. Their attitude of reverence must measure up to what they are doing. COVID-19 Additional Questions for Catholic Schools, COVID-19 Finance FAQ for Catholic Schools, COVID-19 Personnel FAQ for Catholic Schools, COVID-19 Remote Learning FAQ for Catholic Schools, COVID-19 International Students FAQ for Catholic Schools, Forming a New Prayer and Intercessory Team at Your Parish, Resources for Existing Intercessory Prayer Teams, Mooney Real Estate Holding Company and Parish Incorporations, Stewards for Tomorrow/Archdiocese of Detroit Endowment Foundation. . This catechesis must succeed in excluding any suggestion that in the mind of the Church there is a lessening of faith in the eucharistic presence and in excluding as well any danger or hint of danger of profaning the Eucharist. This is more a question of moral theology than of liturgy. The Council of Saragossa (380): Excommunicated anyone who dared continue . Pope Benedict XVI 1927-2022 tribute page and access to resources here. First, Chrysostom in one of his Homilies on Ephesians: What, do you not see the holy vessels so thoroughly cleansed all over, so resplendent? Have reverence for the honor which God has bestowed upon it, and do not lead it down to the vileness of sin.[27]. Rather maddeningly, it is the Anglicans who in the West have retained the practice as described by St. Cyril, while contemporary Latin-rite Catholics tend to consume the Host as if it were a potato chip., From the historical point of view, we can say that there is strong evidence that the practice existed in early centuries in some areas of the Church. The infamous coffee cup masses Dorothy Day describes in her book may have had good intentions behind them, but the way they appeared to trivialize the Holy Sacrifice of the mass lent no dignity to the then new Pauline mass. To signify, seal, and apply to believers all the benefits of the new covenant. I am a daily witness at the Basilique du Sacr-Cur de Montmartre (Paris).. So when received unworthily, it is not only useless, but it is harmful to oneself (a lifestyle of sin continues), our neighbors (increase of violence, arson, looting, murders), and society in general (take a look at the condition of our country), and is extremely offensive to God (hence the wide-spread suffering). Confess it and move on. Unless there is a sense of discipleship rooted in baptism. I dont mean how did it come about. Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread (1 Cor 10:16-17). We should weigh very well the matters in which we appeal to conscience. Come see,
in Eph 3, trans. St. 6. To lessen our evil inclinations. Bishops Cannot Mandate Communion on the Hand or Forbid Communion on the Therefore, it is not licit to deny Holy Communion to any of Christ's faithful solely on the grounds, for example, that the person wishes to receive the Eucharist kneeling or standing" (Redemptionis Sacramentum, no. It is not clear as to how widespread it was or if it was a regular practice. Councils establish principles (and rarely go into specific points) and then leave it to a commission to carry out the detailed work after the Council. Those who receive Communion may receive either in the hand or on the tongue, and the decision should be that of the individual receiving, not of the person distributing Communion. [23] John Chrysostom, hom. Liturgical Press | School of Theology Seminary | Saint John's Abbey | Comments Policy | Contact Us 47), and says of the Communion Chant that "its purpose [is] to express the spiritual union of the communicants by means of the unity of their voices, to show gladness of heart, and to bring out more clearly the 'communitarian' character of the procession to receive the Eucharist" (no. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal takes this hymn very seriously, mandating that it should begin at the Communion of the priest and extend until the last person has received Communion. Mingle and flow into the palms of his disciples![22]. Instead this option must increase in them a consciousness of the dignity of the members of Christs Mystical Body, into which they are incorporated by baptism and by the grace of the Eucharist. On the part of both the minister and the recipient, whenever the host is placed in the hand of a communicant there must be careful concern and caution, especially about particles that might fall from the hosts. As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. The practice of communion on the tongue with the use of patens in the West, and in both kinds on a spoon with a drop cloth in the East, moreover, are natural developments from the concern of the Early Church to prevent Eucharistic mishaps. Copyright PrayTellBlog.com My overarching point in all this (as someone who receives comfortably in both manners) is that I dont think common concerns with reception in the hand have been treated with adequate seriousness by many its defenders. I think youre right that, without an explicitly limiting clause, there is no canonically binding restriction to those countries, and that the subsequent granting of dispensation ultimately belied such restriction. Why did Christ institute the Holy Eucharist? Pope Benedict XVI 1927-2022 tribute page and access to resources here. Pope Benedict was asked why he chose to distribute Communion only to those kneeling and on the tongue and he responded, because it highlights "the truth of the real presence [of Christ] in the Eucharist, helps the devotion . Obviously, for better or worse, the NLM has an agenda. As to the way to carry out the new rite: one possible model is the traditional usage, which expresses the ministerial functions, by having the priest or deacon place the host in the hand of the communicant . The divine coal is a common image of the Eucharist in Syrian theology. Since Christ is really, substantially, sacramentally present but not physically, being OC over crumbs is not devotion. The communicant should audibly respond, "Amen," indicating by that response his or her belief that this small wafer of bread, the wine in this chalice are in reality the body and blood of Christ the Lord. So whats missing? Scandinavia,October 15 1969 The following norms must, therefore, be respected. 3. So the authors claim that he is exactly Vatican II is doubtful. When permitted, the choice as to the form of reception falls upon the communicant and not upon the priest. When permitted, the choice as to the form of reception falls upon the communicant and not upon the priest. On November 14, 1996, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the following guidelines on the reception of Communion. Instead of receiving in my hand, thinking "the other way is better," and quickly gobbling up the Eucharist, I took the "popular way," as a gift: I put my left hand on top of my right . Please remember that there is no "right" way to receive. The Eucharist may not be received while a person has mortal sin in their soul. 1. Early Christian Communion in the Hand | Church Life Journal St. Cyril of Jerusalem in 348 gave this instruction to his congregation: "When you approach Holy Communion, make the left hand into a throne for the right, which will receive the King. It is not appropriate to reach out with the fingers and take the host from the person distributing. Jesus wants to use our hands, which have now become His hands, to help those in need. Please take responsibility for the lies, the bile, and the sinful stuff. Maybe this is due to decades of poor or heterodox catechesis on the Sacraments. The people administering the sacrament are asked to use hand sanitizer immediately before. awr. Never receive Holy Communion by extending only one hand. It may well be the case that the sudden change in practice after Vatican II decreased devotion towards the Eucharist and belief in the true presence, and it may well be the case that there were bad actors who in fact desired this result. Bishop Athanasius Schneider argued along the same lines at the end of February. Communion on the tongue remains the usual and common form of administering Holy Communion. It is difficult for some of us to embrace this emphasis on Mass as the action of a community rather than an individual act of my own faith and piety, but it is important that we make every effort to do so. The Proper Way to Receive Holy Communion - Shrub Oak, NY Click herefor a handout that can be placed in your bulletin for your parishioner. This is precisely why there are occasions when pastoral prudence can lead to suspend the permission. It is clear that this mode of reception was considered reverent and was to be carried out in a reverent manner. France, 6 June 1969 The Pope grants that throughout the territory of your conference, each bishop may, according to his prudent judgment and conscience, authorize in his diocese the introduction of the new rite for giving communion. A. The new manner of giving communion must not be imposed in a way that would exclude the traditional practice. For this reason, since the question of Communion in the hand is not a question of faith as such, and it has been approved by the legitimate authority, I do not believe that a priest can invoke conscience as a motive for refusing to apply a legitimate law. My simple point is that the individual ways our Church evolves over history have a significant impact on its life thereafter, often in ways we dont expect. Many pathogens are transmitted through the hands. From this brief historical survey, however, we know that this need not be the case, and we can look to the Fathers for a pious example as we seek to foster reverence towards the Eucharist in the liturgy today. All rights reserved. If our reader had said that he believed that Communion in the hand was more prone to dangers of accidents and profanation, I would accept the argument. All of us are only grasping a hint of it. In light of some genuinely moving testimonies on the merits of reception in the hand, we cannot ignore that reverence for the Eucharist and belief in the Real Presence among Catholic laity has greatly declined since around the time in which this practice reenterred the Roman Rite after a millennium of absence. As I read above article, I didnt found name of my country India in the list of countries which have Indult for communion in hand. OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF. We also welcome to this celebration those who do not share our faith in Jesus Christ. For the first few centuries of the Church, receiving Communion in the hand was a common practice. With your hand hollowed, receive the Body of Christ and answer 'Amen'. It was designed: 1. If, however, Communion is given under both kinds, the rite prescribed in nos. A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all. As for decades of poor or heterodox catechesis on the Sacraments, it seems more likely that catechesis has never been better, more Scripture-based, and more soundly theological. The two ways of receiving communion can without question take place during the same liturgical service. [6] In Syria (what we now call Turkey and surrounding regions) it is witnessed by Basil the Great,[7] John Chrysostom,[8] Theodore of Mopsuestia,[9] John Damascene[10] and the Council of Constantinople in Trullo (also called the Quinisext council). On the part of both the minister and the recipient, whenever the host is placed in the hand of a communicant there must be careful concern and caution, especially about particles that might fall from the hosts. More people have received Communion in the past century. [12] Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns on Faith 10 and Hymns on Virginity 33.7. Indonesia, 27 March 1971 St. Cyril of Jerusalem in 348 gave this instruction to his congregation:When you approach Holy Communion, make the left hand into a throne for the right, which will receive the King. I mean WHAT SPECIFIC REASONS were given for requesting it in the first place? These practices have wide evidence of use and in some ways never died out completely. The guidelines, which are to be included in missalettes and other participation aids published in the United States, seek to remind all those who may attend Catholic liturgies of the present discipline of the Church with regard to the sharing of Eucharistic Communion. Chad, 18 September 1969 Cardinals Thorne (Peru) and Caffarra (Bologna) have banned Communion in the hand, citing reasons of abuse and disrespect. All our lives we who believe in Christ are moving in time toward that moment when we will be taken by death from this world and enter into the joy of the Lord in the eternal Kingdom he has prepared for us. [5] John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent 28. Aaron, The causes are myriad and often interconnected. Phillip Schaff and Henry Wace in NPNF Second Series, 14 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1900). The problem of lack of reverence stems not from the manner of receiving Communion but from the lack of faith, awe, and gratitude before this great mystery. Because, he says, one should choose the days on which one lives with more purity and self-control in order to approach so great a sacrament worthily. Some advocates of communion on the tongue, at least online, seem guilty of thinking that (however much more virtuous than I they probably are in their lives). Can you direct me to where you obtained this list? As to the way to carry out the new rite: one possible model is the traditional usage, which expresses the ministerial functions, by having the priest or deacon place the host in the hand of the communicant. Theres no simple solution to this issue. The Holy See has made it abundantly clear that both manners of reception of Communion - on the tongue and in the hand - are permitted, that Communion should be received reverently, and that the manner of reception should not become an occasion of division in the church. As with all historical practices, one must examine the context and circumstances which are usually not repeatable.. Gross Alexander NPNF 13, ed. Since practices vary from one church to another, we hope these guidelines help you feel more at home. Todd, yes, the Church as a whole is growing thanks to the great efforts of missionaries in Africa and Asia (many are now coming back here), and yes, more people are receiving the Sacraments now than ever. United States, 17 June 1977 I happen to accept the role of darkness within the Church, but it strikes me as being perpetrated all too often by those who style themselves the most faithful or loyal to God. Reverence can be good if it opens us to God & neighbor and makes us more loving. The option offered to the faithful of receiving the Eucharistic bread in their hand and putting it into their own mouth must not turn out to be the occasion for regarding it as ordinary bread or as just another religious article. The faithful should consume the host before returning to their place; the ministers part will be brought out by use of the usual formulary, The body of Christ, to which the communicant replies: Amen. The restorers of the rite probably had the beautiful simplicity and symbolism of the medieval rite in mind but did not take the changed circumstances sufficiently into account. The most ancient practice of distributing Holy Communion was, with all probability, to give Communion to the faithful in the palm of the hand. I dont read any statement with canonical force saying that only those countries may apply for an indult. CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Holy Communion - New Advent For pastoral reasons this manner of receiving communion has been legitimately established as the most common form in the Latin rite. Upper Volta and Niger, 20 February 1970 SACRED CONGREGATION FOR THE DISCIPLINE OF THE SACRAMENTS, InstructionImmensae caritatis, on facilitating reception of Communion in certain circumstances, 29 January 1973: AAS 65 (1973) 264-271; Not 9 (1973) 157-164. Many of us would treat your claims skeptically as unsupported rumor and gossip. In order to be properly disposed to . Instruction on the Manner of Distributing Holy Communion But whatever the case, it is the Pope who decides to authorize it for countries, and it is indisputable that he did so. Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life, and worship, members of those churches with whom we are not yet fully united are ordinarily not admitted to Holy Communion. Was changing the mode reception of Communion one of them? Bolivia, October 15 1969 http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2014/03/truth-about-communion-in-hand-while.html#.Wpa2wdIUnGg. The manner of receiving holy Communion - Catholic News Agency In each of the Eucharistic Prayers, though the petition is worded in slightly different ways, God is asked to send his Holy Spirit to make us one body, one spirit in Christ; the General Instruction admonishes the faithful that "they are to form one body, whether in hearing the Word of God, or in taking part in the prayers and in the singing" (no. To commemorate the death of Christ: "This do in remembrance of me." 2. Eucharistic sharing in exceptional circumstances by other Christians requires permission according to the directives of the diocesan bishop and the provisions of canon law (canon 844 4). Cyril of Jerusalem and Theodore of Mopsuestia liken the practice to that of receiving a king, and both of them note the method of reception was in joined hands (also described in other sources as hands in the form of a cross). This is the quote that is always used: " make your left hand a throne for the right, as for that which is to receive a King. 896. The Holy Eucharist remits venial sins by disposing us to perform acts of love and contrition. Still, while not the direction eventually taken, I believe restriction to be the more natural reading of the Vaticans intent at that moment in time. Now we feel our affluence threatened, and the Gospel gives no comfort on that front. [2] Cyprian, On the Good of Patience 14, On the Lapsed 16 and 26,and Letter 55.9. It is therefore difficult in the context of this present letter not to mention the sad phenomena previously referred to. One could have perfect adoration of Real Presence in humble posture and, at least in theory, miss the point of Communion. 1. But back in the West, where most of us at PT are from, the Church is struggling. For tell me, if any one gave you grains of gold, would you not hold them with all carefulness, being on your guard against losing any of them, and suffering loss? Under the moral aspect will be considered, in reference to Holy Communion: necessity; subject; dispositions. Objecting to Communion in the Hand | EWTN From the historical point of view, we can say that there is strong evidence that the practice existed in early centuries in some areas of the Church. Never receive Holy Communion in the hand when your hands are impeded; e.g., carrying a cane or some other walking-assistance device, carrying a child in your arms, carrying a purse, have a tissue or handkerchief in your hand, have a cast on your hand, etc. If he is a religious priest, what actions can a legitimate superior take as regards the member who denies Communion in the hand? [11] In East Syria (what we would now call the Middle East) we have evidence from Ephrem the Syrian[12] and Narsai. The very idea of people regularly receiving Communion (and even receiving Communion as part of the liturgy to the Eucharist itself) were relatively new ideas at the time of the Council. Zambia, 11 March 1974 If one is left-handed this is reversed. We are encouraged to receive Communion devoutly and frequently. A letter from the Congregation for Divine Worship to presidents of bishops conferences on May 29, 1969: AAS 61 (1969) 546-547; Notitiae 5 (1969) 351-353: In reply to the request of your conference of bishops regarding permission to give communion by placing the host on the hand of the faithful, I wish to communicate the following. Basil the Great, Doctor of the Church (330-379): "The right to receive Holy Communion in the hand is permitted only in times of persecution.". Your email address will not be published. 284-287 is to be followed.. For whatever reason, reception on the hand does not appear to convey the same level of reverence in the public consciousness as reception on the tongue. What is the proper way of receiving Communion in the hand? The elements were placed in the hands (not in the mouth) of each communicant by the clergy who were present, or, according to Justin, by the deacons alone, amid singing of psalms by the congregation (Psalm 34), with the words: The body of Christ; The blood of Christ, the cup of life; to each of which the recipient responded Amen. (eminent Church historian Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church: Ante-Nicene Christianity: A.D. 100-325 [Vol. ";s:7:"keyword";s:43:"7 rules for receiving communion in the hand";s:5:"links";s:1066:"Lewmar Replacement Sheaves,
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